InternationalHrach Titizian on his love of acting, his family, and his hopes for the future
The aspiring young actor is making a name for himself in Hollywood
Published: Friday July 03, 2009
Hrach Titizian.
Hrach Titizian with Ken Davitian. am-publicrelations
Yerevan - It's a given that breaking into the entertainment industry is no small achievement. While talent is usually a prerequisite, timing, luck, and lots of hard work are attributes that any aspiring young actor must have in heavy reserve. Rejection is something that is doled out in ample amounts in Hollywood.
So what is the secret to success? Actors at different stages of their careers would most probably give different answers. One young actor who is making a name for himself in Hollywood these days has a very clear understanding of what it takes to make it. Hrach Titizan, knows the difficult path he chose when he decided to become an actor. "Talent has a lot to do with it, but work ethic is an even greater factor. You must be willing to put in the work. You cannot be lazy. And you have to love it to the point where you can't live without it," he told the Armenian Reporter. "If it wasn't for acting, I don't know what I would do. I would either be dead or be addicted to drugs, or maybe just in a deep depression. Acting is my drug of choice. I get high off it."
Define a break
About nine years ago, when he decided to pursue acting, Hrach started carefully preparing for a career. He began taking classes, got head shots, went out to auditions, and even got one-liners here and there. It was only in 2003 that he started to get any kind of real work in television, theater, and film. When asked when he got his first real break, he said, "That's a tough one. This business is very funny. Everything is relative. For some people, a co-starring role on a TV show is a ‘break,' and for others it's having a big part in a Spielberg film. I guess it depends on the actor. For me, I wouldn't even say I've had my ‘break.' I've done some great work with some great people, but I'm still an actor trying to get that next job. For me, my ‘break' would be when I don't have to wait for another job, when the offers are coming in."
Obviously being smart and having a well-defined plan and the support of family and friends helps.
Hrach grew up in Glendale, California, a hub of Armenian community life and culture. His childhood was a unique one and he recalls having wonderful experiences as a child. "I was a trouble maker, a class clown, and a rebel. I have an older brother and a younger sister, so I definitely had ‘middle child syndrome.' I never got any attention, so I always had to work harder for it," he explains. "Ever since I can remember, I was the entertainer of the family. Whenever we had guests, my parents would always force me to get up and perform something after dinner while our guests were having their coffee and eating their pastries. So I would sing a song, tell a joke, do an imitation, whatever. They all got a kick out of it."
Mom and dad
But when he announced, at the age of 20, that he had made the decision to actually become an actor, his family's reaction was a different one. While his mom thought it was a passing phase, she was mostly supportive. His father on the other hand was not happy with his decision. "Of course, his disapproval only came from him caring about me and wanting me to succeed. We all know how tough it is to succeed in the entertainment business. I just think it's funny how the same thing they push you to do when you're a child they disapprove of later. They didn't realize that how they raised me played a huge role in my decision. Fortunately, they're both supportive now, and have been ever since I did my first play. That makes me happy," he says.
The Actor's Playpen
Today his family firmly believes in his talent and they understand the love and passion he has for the art. "But it's funny?.?.?. every time I book a job, the first question they ask is, ‘How much are they paying you?' Fortunately, I opened a theater and acting school in Hollywood in 2004 called The Actor's Playpen, so running a business seems to give my parents some sense of relief for some reason," he explains. Today his parents have much more pressing concerns: if only he would just marry an Armenian girl now. "It's always something," Hrach jokes.
Over the course of his acting career, Hrach has appeared on television, in films and on the stage.
In his latest theater project he portrayed Uday Hussein in the world premier of Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, which was directed by Emmy and Tony nominated Moises Kaufman. Hrach has also worked on a number of films including Universal's The Kingdom, Johnny Asuncion's Float, and the upcoming Men Who Stare at Goats, starring George Clooney, Ewan McGregor, Kevin Spacey, and Jeff Bridges. His television credits include 24, Mad Men, Alias, N.C.I.S., Mind Of Mencia, Las Vegas, The Shield and Raising The Bar.
When asked which genre he prefers, Hrach says that while the hours are great in television, there are limitations on artistic freedom. "Even the writers and directors are limited in their creativity. You have studios over your shoulder making sure everything is going how they think it should go for the show to be successful. Many times they're way off. Everyone just wants to keep their job," he explains.
Before a live audience
Regarding the theater, he admits that there's nothing like performing for a live audience on stage. "I've done over a dozen plays, and I can say what I don't like about theater is the process. I don't like rehearsing for six weeks only to do the same thing over and over and over again, night after night. Sometimes eight shows a week!" he says. "I'm not a routine kind of guy, and the repetition gets old quick for me. The good thing is, unless you have a dictator for a director, you have a lot of creative freedom and you can pretty much do anything you and the director agree on."
